Objectives: epidemiology of pediculosis capitis was determined. The worldwide distributed ectoparasite, Pediculus humanus capitis, causes pediculosis capitis. Although risk factors for children are known, studies about its clinical description are rare. Materials and methods: cross-sectional descriptive study based on a sample (356 children) aged 1 to 5 of a low-income area from Popayán, Colombia. Two observations were practiced: at the beginning and at the end of the year 2017. Hair, scalp, lymphatic nodules and frontotemporal, parietal, occipital, nuchal and retroauricular cutaneous regions were examined. Insects were mechanically removed by wetting the hair and using lice combs. Nits, nymphs and adult lice were gathered and stored for future studies. Results: prevalence and incidence of pediculosis capitis were 5.1 % and 20.2 %, respectively. The associated variables were mainly infestation antecedent, long hair, female sex and eliminating with shampoo (95 % CI: 15-20). Clinical variables: presence of adenopathies, hair scalp inflammation and nuchal adenopathies (25-35 %); nits and lice localized in occipital region, hair scalp itching and retroauricular itching (20-25 %). Conclusions: pediculosis capitis affects those nursery children studied. It is important to know the variables associated for prevention, control and eradication of head lice infestation.